2024 Australian IT Journalism Awards Winners Announced

David Swan and the ABC Take Top Honours

ABC News and David Swan, technology editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have walked away with the Gold Lizzies, taking the top honours at the 22nd Annual Samsung IT Journalism Awards.

Produced by media intelligence platform Influencing, the Awards recognise the most outstanding journalists and outlets covering technology in Australia each year.

This year our event’s new home at Doltone House in Jones Bay Wharf played host to around 300 guests and sponsors, with the harbour providing a stunning backdrop for red carpet arrivals & cocktails from 6.30pm.

Below – Marc Fennell of the ABC with Graeme Philipson Best Columnist winner Jackson Ryan on the red carpet.

(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)

Free to enter, and predominantly peer-judged, these awards are only possible thanks to our Name Sponsor Samsung Australia, our lifelong event partners at Watterson, our partners Amazon Web ServicesOptusCiscoNetApp, the Australian Computer SocietyMeta, our design & print partners Canva and our Official Gin Sponsor Aussie Broadband.

With 23 categories contested by 140 entrants, the awards were as closely fought as they have ever been. This year The Age and Sydney Morning Herald’s David Swan and ABC News have taken home the top awards known as the gold Lizzies, taking home Best Journalist and Best Title respectively.

This was the third win for both parties. David Swan also scored the trophy for Best Technology Journalist and Best Telecommunications Journalist with a highly commended in the Best Technology Issues category. 

Meanwhile ABC News also took home Best Gaming Coverage and Best News Coverage in addition to their Best Title win. The ABC team is pictured below with our Naming Rights sponsor Samsung Australia.

Left to to right: Julian Fell (ABC); Ben Spraggon (ABC); Matea Rojas, Head of Corporate Communications at Samsung Australia; Gianfranco Di Giovanni (ABC) and Jackson Ryan.

(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)

“Once again, the Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards proved what a special event it is – it is remarkable that even after 22 years it continues to grow in importance and stature,” said Influencing CEO and show host / MC Phil Sim (Pictured below presenting this year’s Pioneer of IT Media to industry veteran Len Rust).

“Our 2024 awards once again served their mission. Primarily, that is to recognise excellence in technology media and journalism, with the ambition that it inspires journalists to rigorously investigate and report on critical technology-related issues faced by the world today.”

“However, it is also about bonding the community – it is the one event that brings together technology journalists, and the people they work with, to renew friendships and build new ones, and with more than 280 people in attendance, it certainly achieved that again.”

(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)
(Event Photos by Elly at Fluential Studio / fluential.au)

We would like to once again thank all our sponsors for their support; the community of media communications professionals who choose to join in support of the event each year, and of course all our entrants, finalists and winners at this year’s Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards.

The complete list of winners and highly-commendeds is below. Thank you everyone for making the event special, we look forward to bring this event to you again in 2025.

2024 IT Journalism Award Winners
Alicia Camphuisen Best New Journalist
Petra Stock
HC: Emily Spindler-Carruthers 

Best Security Journalist
David Swan
HC: Patrick Gray

Best Technical Journalist
David Braue
HC: Jeremy Nadel

Best Gaming Journalist
Fergus Halliday
HC: Daniel Van Boom

Best Gaming Coverage
ABC News
HC: GamesHub

Paul Zucker Best Technology Industry Journalist
Jessica Sier
HC: Nick Bonyhady

Best Game Reviewer
Edmond Tran
HC: Amanda Yeo

Best Technology Reviewer
John Davidson
HC: Alex Kidman

Best Technology Issues Journalist
Ariel Bogle
HC: David Swan, Julian Fell

Pioneer of IT Media
Len Rust

Best Short Form Content
Tobias Venus
HC: Cam Wilson

John Costello Best Business Technology Journalist
Justin Hendry
HC: Paul Smith

Best Business Coverage
The Australian Financial Review
HC: Mi-3

Best Consumer Technology Coverage
The Age & Sydney Morning Herald
HC: SmartCompany, Canstar Blue

Best News Coverage
ABC News Story Lab
HC: The Age & Sydney Morning Herald

Graeme Philipson Best Columnist
Jackson Ryan
HC: Paul Smith

Cass Warneminde Best News Journalist
Ariel Bogle
HC: Andrew Birmingham, Joseph Brookes, David Braue

Best Independent Media
Checkpoint Gaming
HC: The Martech Weekly, Player2

Helen Dancer Best Consumer Technology Journalist
Alex Kidman
HC: Fergus Halliday

Best Audio Program
Risky Business
HC: Download This Show, Debunks

Best Video Program
SBS 
HC: Tobias Venus

Best Telecommunications Journalist
David Swan
HC: Paul Smith

David Hellaby Best Media Relations
Salvatore Di Muccio
HC: Angela 

Best Corporate Content
David Braue
HC: Huntley Mitchell

Gold Lizzie: Best Journalist of the Year
David Swan

Gold Lizzie: Best Title of the Year
ABC

About Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards
Known affectionately as The Lizzies and held every year since 2003, the Australian IT Journalism Awards acknowledge the most outstanding journalists and outlets covering technology in Australia each year. Content, Journalism, Beat/Vertical and Media Relations – there are 21 separate awards, plus our two special categories: Title of the Year, currently held by the Australian Financial Review; and Journalist of the Year, currently held by David Braue. Ensuring audiences have an accurate, balanced & accessible understanding of technology is critical for Australia’s future commercial growth. The peer-judged awards advance this cause each year, by publicly identifying and encouraging good tech journalism. https://www.thelizzies.com/

Media Contact:
Mike Woodcock
Chief Commercial Officer
Influencing & the Mediaconnect Group
www.Influencing.com
mike@mediaconnect.com.au / mike@Influencing.com
O: +61 2 9894 6277
M: +61 411 969 248

Follow #Lizzies or #Lizzies24 on Instagram & Twitter

Lizzies 2024: Finalists & Final Updates

The 2024 Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards are finally here! This Friday from 6.30 our new venue at Doltone House on Jones Bay Wharf will play host to this annual event celebrating Australia’s leading technology journalists, publishers and media partners at this year’s Night of Nights.

As ever, these awards are only possible thanks to our Name Sponsor Samsung Australia, our lifelong event partners at Watterson, our partners Amazon Web ServicesOptusCiscoNetApp, the Australian Computer SocietyMeta, and our Official Gin Sponsor Aussie Broadband.

(Above: WhistleOut with last year's Best Consumer Technology Coverage award)
WhistleOut with last year’s Best Consumer Technology Coverage award

Dates, Times, Dress code
For everyone attending the awards this Friday March 22nd, here’s some essential housekeeping –

Date: Friday March 22nd from 6.30pm
Venue: Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Sydney
Dress Code: Black Tie / Dress to theme
Best Dressed Theme: Sequins and Sparkles
Socials: #Lizzies, #Lizzies24

Late RSVP’s and tickets
If you have an urgent query, RSVP, or late ticketing enquiry, please email Mike@Influencing.com ; or contact Donna@Influencing.com

Cisco Webex Livestream
Big thank you to Cisco for assisting the livecast of the event for those who can’t make the trip to Sydney. This has been something we’ve done since Lockdown (remember that?), and our online audience keeps growing each year.

Cisco’s Director of Public Relations and Communications Cori Moran: “Cisco is once again proud to support the Lizzies this year – the best recognition and celebration of the IT Journalism industry. We are pleased to enable connections through Webex that will allow anyone to join the celebration from anywhere. Congratulations to all the finalists!”

The livestream will go live from 7.45pm on Friday for all the award coverage, with the first award live from 8pm. Your link for that viewing stream is here. (Remote finalists will be sent a separate email with instructions for following along and joining live presentations.)

Full Finalists List – Support Your Favourite Outlets!
Thank you again to everyone who entered this year’s awards. The standard keeps rising year after year, a glowing testament to the abilities of Australian technology journalists. In acknowledgment of that we’d like to reaffirm this year’s list of finalists, and wish every the best of luck!

ABC's Marc Fennell, of 2023's Best Outlet with Download this Show on ABC Listen
ABC’s Marc Fennell, of 2023’s Best Outlet with Download this Show on ABC Listen

Finalists – Coverage Awards
Best News Coverage
ABC News Story Lab, AFR, ARNNet, Capital Brief, Digital Nation, GadgetGuy, Games Hub, Gizmodo Australia, Information Age, InnovationAus, iTnews, Mi-3, Reseller News, Reviews.org/au, Safewise, SmartCompany, The Age & Sydney Morning Herald
Best Business Coverage
AdNews, AFR, Capital Brief, CRN, Digital Nation, Information Age, InnovationAus, iTnews, Mi-3, SmartCompany
Best Consumer Technology Coverage
Canstar Blue, Explosion Network, GadgetGuy, GamesHub, Gizmodo Australia, Lifehacker Australia, Reviews.org/au, SmartCompany, The Age & Sydney Morning Herald, WhistleOut
Best Independent Coverage
AlexReviewsTech, BTTR, Checkpoint Gaming, Craving Tech, Explosion Network, Gamer Girl Journalist, High Performance Laptops, Pickr, Player2, SIFTER, SMB Tech, Stevivor, SuperJump, The Martech Weekly, Vertical Hold
Best Gaming Coverage
ABC News, Checkpoint Gaming, Explosion Network, GadgetGuy, GamesHub, IGN Australia, Kotaku Australia, Lifehacker Australia, Player2, Reviews.org/au, Stevivor, SuperJump, The Game Crater
Best Video Program
ABC Gamer, Chris Stead, Good Game Spawn Point, SBS, Tobias Venus, Women Love Tech
Best Audio Program
Checkpoint on JOY, Debunks, Digital Nation, Download This Show, Hello AI Overlords, KBKast, Mi3 Audio Edition, PocketBuds, Risky Business, The Business of Tech, The Wrap, Vertical Hold, Walkthrough by SIFTER, We Review Stuff

Beat Awards
John Costello Best Business Journalist
Andrew Birmingham
Athina Mallis
Chris Pash
Christopher Kelly
Jeremy Nadel
Justin Hendry
Liam Tung
Paul Smith
Rob O’Neill
Ry Crozier
Tess Bennett
Velvet-Belle Templeman

Paul Zucker Best Technology Industry Journalist
Andrew Birmingham
Daniel Van Boom
David Swan
Eleanor Dickinson
Eloise Keating
Jessica Sier
Nick Bonyhady
Paul Smith
Rob O’Neill
Simon Sharwood
Tess Bennett
William Maher

Helen Dancer Best Consumer Technology Journalist
Alex Choros
Alex Kidman
Alice Clarke
Chris Neill
David Braue
Fergus Halliday
James Purtill
Jarni Blakkarly
Josh Taylor
Tegan Jones
Zachariah Kelly

Best Gaming Journalist
Amanda Yeo
Daniel Van Boom
Elliot Attard
Emily Spindler-Carruthers
Fergus Halliday
Gianfranco Di Giovanni
Isaac McIntyre
Jack Ryan
James Cottee
Leah Williams
Matthew Hewson
Ruby Innes

Best Telecommunications Journalist
Alex Angove-Plumb
Alex Choros
David Braue
David Swan
Josh Taylor
Mariam Gabaji
Paul Smith
Rob O’Neill
Ry Crozier
Simon Sharwood
Tara Donnelly

Journalism Awards
Alicia Camphuisen Best New Journalist
Ashley Regan
Brandon How
Christie Graham
Christie McQualter
Courtney Borrett
Dylan Crismale
Emily Spindler-Carruthers
Hannah Geremia
Julian Fell
Ky Stewart
Lauren Rouse
Petra Stock
Ruby Derrick

Cass Warneminde Best News Journalist
Andrew Birmingham
Ariel Bogle
David Braue
David Hollingworth
David Swan
Eloise Keating
Georgia Dixon
Jason Pollock
Josh Taylor
Justin Hendry
Paul Smith
Tegan Jones

Graeme Philipson Best Columnist
Bronwen Clune
Cam Wilson
Casey Tonkin
Chris Griffith
Jack Ryan
James Riley
Luke Reilly
Paul Smith
Simon Sharwood
Tegan Jones
Tim Biggs

Best Security Journalist
Amanda Yeo
David Braue
David Hollingworth
David Swan
Hannah Geremia
Leigh Stark
Leonard Bernardone
Patrick Gray
Paul Smith
Thomas Uren

Best Technology Issues Journalist
Ariel Bogle
Cam Wilson
Daniel Van Boom
David Swan
Jack Ryan
Jarni Blakkarly
Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
Jessica Sier
Josh Taylor
Julian Fell
Sam Nichols
Tess Bennett

Best Technical Journalist
Adam Turner
Alex Kidman
Alice Clarke
Amanda Yeo
Casey Tonkin
David Braue
Jeremy Nadel
Leigh Stark
Neerav Bhatt
Petra Stock
Tara Donnelly
Zachariah Kelly

Best Gaming Reviewer
Alice Clarke
Amanda Yeo
Christie McQualter
David McNamara
Edmond Tran
Fergus Halliday
Jam Walker
James O’Connor
James Wood
Leah Williams
Luke Reilly

Best Technology Reviewer
Adam Turner
Alex Choros
Alex Kidman
Alice Clarke
Anula Wiwatowska
Chris Button
John Davidson
Leigh Stark
Nick Broughall
Nick Ross
Rae Johnston
Rose Jordan
Zachariah Kelly

Best Short Form Content
ABC Gamer
Cam Wilson
Frances Cook
Gizmodo Australia
Jack Ryan
Kotaku Australia
Lifehacker
Naomi Jackson
Quest Daily
Safewise Australia
The Game Crater
Tobias Venus
WhistleOut

Content & Media Relations Awards
Best Corporate Content
David Braue
Huntley Mitchell
Kathryn Goater
Matt Hopkins
Nick Ross
Velvet-Belle Templeman

David Hellaby Best Media Relations
Adela Amanowicz (Cisco)
Angela Coombes (NetApp)
Doug Johns (Power Up PR)
Justin Stolarski (Optus)
Mike Foley (Five Star Games)
Oisin O’Callaghan (Watterson)
Salvatore Di Muccio (WellAbove)

About Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards
Known affectionately as The Lizzies and held every year since 2003, the Australian IT Journalism Awards acknowledge the most outstanding journalists and outlets covering technology in Australia each year. Content, Journalism, Beat/Vertical and Media Relations – there are 21 separate awards, plus our two special categories: Title of the Year, currently held by the Australian Financial Review; and Journalist of the Year, currently held by David Braue. Ensuring audiences have an accurate, balanced & accessible understanding of technology is critical for Australia’s future commercial growth. The peer-judged awards advance this cause each year, by publicly identifying and encouraging good tech journalism. https://www.thelizzies.com/

Media Contact:
Mike Woodcock
Chief Commercial Officer
Influencing & the Mediaconnect Group
www.Influencing.com
mike@mediaconnect.com.au / mike@Influencing.com
O: +61 2 9894 6277
M: +61 411 969 248

Follow #Lizzies or #Lizzies24 on Instagram & Twitter